OSHA Going Through Local Emphasis Program Establishment

OSHA Establishes Local Emphasis Program in Wis. and Offers Compliance Assistance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) may be more popularly associated with safety at construction sites, but actually it affects all sectors because work safety cuts across industries. This March, OSHA put together a local emphasis program to protect workers from the range of dangers on Wisconsin dairy farms, from those involving animal handling to manure storage.

"Far too many workers are injured and killed in preventable incidents at dairy farms in Wisconsin," revealed Mark Hysell, OSHA area director in Eau Claire, Wis. "This program will enable OSHA inspectors to visit dairy farms and ensure that all required measures are taken to protect workers."
Most employers today already require OSHA courses, such as OSHAcampus 30 hour and 10 hour training (both online OSHA training), as hiring requirements to reduce worksite injuries, and local emphasis programs, such as the one established on Wisconsin dairy farms, go a long in enhancing safe work environments and conditions.

Based on Wisconsin Dairy Farm Census of Agriculture data, some 34,000 workers are currently employed in the state's dairy farms. About 40 percent of them are immigrants, who may be not as familiar with safety and health rights and responsibilities as other workers. Since 2006, OSHA reported having investigated five fatality inspections at dairy farms in Wisconsin.

Under the local emphasis program, OSHA hopes to perform thorough safety and health inspections at dairy farms that have 10 non-immediate family member employees and at dairy farms that have run a temporary labor camp in the last 12 months. OSHA said that each inspection will include detailed questions to accumulate information on common dangers associated with the operation of horizontal bunker silos, skid-steer and tractor operations, and hazard communication.

OSHA is also endeavoring to make the work of cleanup crews—who often must brave inclement weather and the dangers of destroyed structures, fallen trees, and downed power lines—as safe as possible after a storm or a tornado.

Although most employers now require OSHA courses, such as OSHA 30 training and OSHA 10 training (both online OSHA training) as hiring requirements, OSHA’s providing compliance assistance still helps mitigate hazards and minimize the risks injuries on the ground.

"The safety and health of these cleanup crews are our chief concern, and we are on the ground in affected areas providing compliance assistance," said Greg Baxter, the OSHA acting regional administrator in Chicago. "Storm recovery efforts expose workers to a wide range of hazards, which can be minimized by knowledge, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment."

According to OSHA, among the dangers usually encountered during cleanup work are downed electrical wires, carbon monoxide and electrical hazards from portable generators, burns, lacerations, being struck by traffic or heavy equipment, and hazards from tree trimming or working at heights.
OSHA enjoins workers and employers in recovery work to call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) if they need onsite assistance in their areas. Vital information on safe work practices and personal protective equipment can be found on OSHA's Tornado Recovery page at http://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/tornado/index.html.

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Burn Hazards Result in OSHA Fines

For failing to provide the simple matter of personal protective equipment, Miniature Precision Components Inc. is looking at a proposed fine by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of $55,000.

The penalty came in the wake of an OSHA investigation at the company’s Richland Center facility which found that employees working mold machines were exposed to very hot temperatures without adequate personal protective equipment.

The importance of OSHA training such as OSHAcampus 30 and 10 hour training, and 40 Hour HAZWOPER training cannot be overemphasized in maintaining a safe work environment. Unfortunately, many employers still fail to implement the safety standards at their worksites and ultimately endanger the health and safety of their employees.

"Failing to protect employees from burns while they are working with materials manufactured at high temperatures shows a disregard for their safety," pointed out Kim Stille, OSHA area director in Madison. Wisconsin. "Employers have a responsibility to be aware of the hazards that exist in their workplace and ensure that work environments are healthful and safe."

Miniature Precision Components' corporate headquarters is located in Walworth. The company's Richland Center facility had been inspected by OSHA five times since 1999, resulting in 11 citations.

OSHACampus.com, a leading provider of online OSHA training, has 10 Hour OSHA Training and 30 Hour OSHA Training, as well as 40 Hour HAZWOPER training for workers, supervisors, and contractors.

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Petrol Explosion and Burn Hazards Result in OSHA Fines

All manner of accidents threaten the American worker, and all are preventable. Sadly, every day across the country these same avoidable accidents cause dire consequences on health, or result in injury, even death. Although most employers now require Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training, such as OSHA 30  hour course and 10 hour training, and 40 Hour HAZWOPER training, lapses (both unintentional and not) still frequently occur and put in great danger the health and safety of workers.

This February, OSHA cited Coomes Oil & Supply Inc. for safety hazards after an employee of Florida Rock & Tank Lines, the company that delivers petroleum to one of its gas stations, was burned in an explosion in August 2011.

OSHA reported that the delivery driver was refilling an above-ground gasoline storage tank that had a malfunctioning gauge. The tank eventually overflowed and caused an explosion. The subsequent OSHA investigation revealed that the gas station and Florida Rock & Tank Lines knew of the broken gauge and yet proceeded with refilling the storage tank.

Florida Rock & Tank Lines was cited for one willful violation for failing to provide a way for the delivery driver to determine if the storage tank was in danger of overflowing. The citation carried a proposed penalty of $70,000. Coomes Oil & Supply, on the other hand, was cited for one serious violation with a proposed penalty of $7,000.

"Unfortunately for the injured employee, the two companies involved in this explosion learned a safety lesson by means of a terrible incident instead of taking the steps they should have to protect their workers in the first place," stated OSHA area director Brian Sturtecky.

One company that may be luckier than either Coomes Oil & Supply Inc. or Florida Rock & Tank Lines is Miniature Precision Components Inc. Or maybe not.

For failing to provide the simple matter of personal protective equipment, Miniature Precision Components Inc. is looking at a proposed fine by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of $55,000.

The penalty came in the wake of an OSHA investigation at the company’s Richland Center facility which found that employees working mold machines were exposed to very hot temperatures without adequate personal protective equipment

"Failing to protect employees from burns while they are working with materials manufactured at high temperatures shows a disregard for their safety," pointed out Kim Stille, OSHA area director in Madison. Wisconsin. "Employers have a responsibility to be aware of the hazards that exist in their workplace and ensure that work environments are healthful and safe."

Miniature Precision Components' corporate headquarters is located in Walworth. The company's Richland Center facility had been inspected by OSHA five times since 1999, resulting in 11 citations.

OSHACampus.com, a leading provider of online OSHA training, has 10 Hour OSHA Training and 30 Hour OSHA Training, as well as 40 Hour HAZWOPER training for workers, supervisors, and contractors.

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OSHA Cites Ohio Company for Safety Violations

For a company’s failure to ensure that a shear was kept in good working condition, one of its workers has lost an arm and the company has been cited for workplace safety violations by OSHA.

Polymerics Inc., a rubber-manufacturing facility in Cuyahoga Falls and Kent, Ohio, was actually found guilty of four safety violations, including a willful violation that caused the accidental amputation.

Knowledge of OSHA safety requirements is required by law and OSHA training is now mandatory in many states. Most employers now require for employment OSHA 30 certification (for supervisors) and OSHA 10 hour training (for workers), and 40 Hour HAZWOPER training (in certain worksites) to improve safety and health conditions at worksites.

Following a complaint alleging a malfunctioning safety pin on a hydraulic shear machine, OSHA conducted an investigation in August 2011 and was able to verify the complaint. OSHA explained that a willful violation constitutes an “intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or plain indifference to employee safety and health.”

OSHA's Cleveland area director, Howard Eberts, said that "Failing to ensure that safety mechanisms on hazardous machines are working properly demonstrates a lack of regard for employees' safety and health."

In addition, OSHA cited Polymerics for one repeat violation for its failure to do the mandatory yearly review of lockout/tagout procedures, and for two serious violations for its failures to orient its employees on hazardous chemicals and to train workers in machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures. OSHA proposed fines totaling $74,900.

OSHACampus.com, a leading provider of online OSHA training, offers OSHAcampus.com 10 training and OSHAcampus.com 30 course for workers, supervisors, and contractors, as well as 40 Hour HAZWOPER training.

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OSHA and APCA Ally for Work Safety

OSHA announced this January 2012 that it has renewed its alliance with the American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) to line up with its objectives of protecting workers from work hazards associated with trenching and excavation, hydrostatic testing, and of course, during equipment operation.

Most employers, especially those engaged in pipeline projects, require for employment OSHA 30 certification (for supervisors) and OSHA 10 hour training (for workers), and 40 Hour HAZWOPER training (in certain worksites) to ensure safety and health conditions at worksites.

"[O]ne of our goals is to ensure that appropriate precautions are taken to protect workers during pipeline construction for the oil and gas industry," said David Michaels, assistant secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

The two-year agreement entails sharing of information on occupational safety and health standards, and worker rights and employer responsibilities via such assemblies as fora and exhibits. The 14,000-strong APCA addresses safety, environmental and security issues within the pipeline industry among pipeline contractors, manufacturers and suppliers of pipeline-related products and services.

OSHA’s Alliance Program provides the federal work-safety watchdog another way to work closely with groups promoting workplace safety and health to prevent injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. OSHA coordinates with these groups to develop compliance-assistance tools and to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.

OSHACampus.com provides online OSHA training including OSHAcampus.com 10 Training and OSHAcampus.com 30 course for workers, supervisors, and contractors, as well as 40 Hour HAZWOPER training.

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